Even though there is no new North Shore City Council representative yet, the annual pre-St. Patrick's Parade party at Jody's Club Forest is safe.

The party, which draws elected officials and pols of all stripes, used to be sponsored by former Councilman Jay O'Donovan, who passed the tradition along to his successor, Mike McMahon, who is now a U.S. congressman.

McMahon told us that he will sponsor this year's shindig, which promises to be a biggie thanks to the fact that Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Borough President Jim Molinaro are running for re-election, and host of others are seeking citywide or borough office.

"It's not in peril," McMahon said. "It's going forward as usual."

In addition to being the first event of spring, the party marks the unofficial beginning of the Staten Island political season.

"The party is important for the parade itself," McMahon said. "It's an important event for Irish-Catholics, and everybody knows that Irish parade day is chock full of politics."

He added, "It's near and dear to my heart. I'd probably have chosen to host it anyway."

The party begins at 11 a.m. this Sunday at Jody's on Forest Avenue. The parade itself steps off at 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Forest and Hart Boulevard, mere steps away from Jody's.